Scrap Pieces of Me

Very pretty papers ...

2012-02-08T10:19:00.000+11:00

I’ve been following along with a number of websites/blogs who have been highlighting what has come out at CHA this past week, have you? Shimelle has a series of blog posts with great previews of most of the manufacturers new releases. Have to say the products have been amazing. There are at least 10 line releases that I can only call divine.

Like this one by My Mind's Eye or these (below) from Echo Park.

Or how about this little gem from Cosmo Cricket.

Aghhhhh - if only I knew then what I know now I would have done my purchasing SO very differently.

Taking over ARTastic ...

2012-02-02T12:21:00.000+11:00

I'm totally delighted to now be in charge of this wonderful little challenge blog ARTastic. My mind has been abuzz with ideas to bring to this site and for the past few hours I have been busy deleting this and adding that - moving this here and putting that there. It has been so much fun trying to make the site fresh and welcoming but without taking away from what the place was.

The next few months are going to be wonderful as I implement new ideas and make a few changes to how things are run. So far much of what I have done is cosmetic but hopefully given time there will be some improvements. My aim this year is to boost participation and grow this site. Wish me luck.

Monday ...

2012-01-30T07:30:00.000+11:00

Oh yes - it sure is.

Hello relaxation ...

2012-01-26T11:16:00.000+11:00

We have just booked a holiday on this little beauty. 12 nights around New Zealand and calling into Hobart for a look see on the way home. Can't wait for January 4th, 2013.

Monday ...

2012-01-23T11:08:00.000+11:00

Now that would be a first !!!

Plum wonderful ...

2012-01-22T11:35:00.000+11:00

I'm the first to admit I totally love Stephanie Plum. She's quirky, comes from a family that put the D in Dysfunctional and the O in Oddball, has friends that are well ... just plain manic, works in a job that is certainly different and a whole lot dangerous, has a love life that could only be described as ...." interesting" and is a total disaster just waiting to happen. My sort of girl really!!

I tend to judge Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books by laughter level. In the eighteen of this series I am happy to say that only a very small number have been in the smirk category while the vast majority have sat firmly in the laugh out loud and chuckle section. Several have even made the "tears streaming down my face while I try to control myself" region.

I do much of my reading in bed last thing at night. The house is quiet, invariably the husband beside me is sleeping - it's where I get that special "me" time to savour the reading experience. I was fully immersed in Explosive Eighteeen a few nights ago - happily chuckling away through Chapter Seven when my husband rolls over and opens one bleary eye and says "Let me guess? ... it's that Peach chick again?". Plum, dear, Stephanie Plum! - long may she reign.

Right now ...

2012-01-20T23:58:00.000+11:00

Right now I'm listening to my daughter chat with her boyfriend on Skype - it's a nightly occurrence, into the wee small hours I might add. They play joint online games (usually Portal or Portal 2) and you can hear the laughing and squealing as they combat each other and whatever it is you do on portal. She worked tonight so they didn't get online until after 11pm.

Right now it's humid, the last few days have been the warmest we have gotten so far this summer - at least it feels that way and it's humid. makes me realise how much I hate the humidity, it's draining and uncomfortable.

Right now it's 11.57pm - yep it's late but I know if I go to bed now I'll just toss and turn and turn and toss for what will seem like hours so I've been trying a different tactic of pushing myself to stay up later (like til 1.30, even 2am) and then go to bed - at least then I fall to sleep reasonably quickly. Guess it's sorting out which is the lesser of the two evils.

Right now I'm thinking of the extremely long list of things I really need to get done. It's a toilet roll of a list and every day I seem to tick off one or two items and add in five or six more. I don't have enough hours in a given day but I'm not letting it defeat me - it gets done, it gets done - if it doesn't, I'm OK with that too.

Right now I'm allowing myself to be just a little excited by the prospect of heading to New Zealand for Autumn Escape scrapbooking retreat in April. Booking the airline tickets last night sort of made it feel real and being able to spend a week there this time is just plain awesome.

Right now it's good - all good - hope it stays that way.

OhLife - making journal entries a breeze ...

2012-01-19T11:22:00.007+11:00

Psst - want a great idea for keeping track of entries for project life or your blog? Like doing a daily journal but never seem to keep it up. Want a simple, fuss free solution?.

In 2010 I discovered OhLife and daily note taking suddenly became easier, well no, in fact it became so dang easy it was ridiculous.

So what is OhLife - Once you set your preferences this nifty little site sends you an email every night (or three times a week or weekly ) asking how your day was. All you need to do is to reply to it. Simply as that. All your entries are stored and are super easy to access for future use either through OhLife itself or as your own saved emails.

Check it out. You'll love OhLife like I do.

Wednesday inspiration ...

2012-01-18T11:44:00.000+11:00

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent

Monday ...

2012-01-16T09:25:00.000+11:00

Yep - gets you every time.

A Soul Scrapper challenge ...

2012-01-13T14:03:00.000+11:00

As memory keepers we look to many places for inspiration and ideas for layouts. Many of us subscribe to scrapbooking or craft magazines, some of us look to blogs and web sites for ideas. One of the things I often look at for layout inspiration is advertisements.

Take this one for example ...

I really liked the clean crisp feel to the design layout and the way one large photo was used to tell the story (or to inspire us to rush off to tropical pastures!). It was easy to transpose this idea to a 12x12 layout and can be done just as easily with paper as I have done it with a computer.

This is the sketch and template I have made of the advertisement.

And here is my version of the add. If you would like to play along with me with this challenge pop over to Soul Scrappers for all the relevant information.

Know what today is??

2012-01-13T10:30:00.001+11:00

Do you know what today is? If you are the nervous type, shy away from ladders, worry when you see black cats or throw spilt salt over your shoulder, you are probably very aware that today is Friday the 13th - Black Friday no less.

Did you know that legend has it: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven.

You should never change your bed on Friday; it will bring bad dreams. If you cut your nails on Friday, you cut them for sorrow. Don't start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune. Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck, as in the tale of H.M.S. Friday. One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell the longstanding superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned and given the name "H.M.S. Friday." They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday, and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday — and was never seen or heard from again.

Seems 13 has always been associated with bad luck and add it to a Friday and ..well, watch out! Funnily enough both my parents were born on the 13th - February and August and yes, you guessed it, both days were a Friday.

Some Ali inspiration ...

2012-01-12T13:55:00.001+11:00

I admire Ali Edwards for many reasons other than her remarkable talent in memory keeping. She doesn't put herself on a pedestal, she doesn't think she's a cut above everyone else. She's kind and gentle, a mother doing the best she can. She's real and I think she's inspirational.

I very much like what she has said and how she has said it in this lovely story about her family acquiring a cat. It proves that even a simple story can mean oh so much. The words aren't complicated, nor is the story yet it comes from the heart and that is why it works so very well.

Wednesday ...

2012-01-11T09:53:00.000+11:00

Never lose sight of that ...

10 things ...

2012-01-10T10:17:00.001+11:00

Today I thought I might have a look at some of the major projects I've noticed on offer across the web for all of us avid memory keepers,

1. 10 things on the 10th with Shimelle - well er listing 10 things on the 10th.

2. Project Life with Becky Higgins - the keeping of the everyday. This year there seems to be a renewed interest in this project, people have realised they can adapt it to whatever works for them and have embraced the concept.

3. One Little Word with Ali Edwards - taking a word and living it for a year.

4. Take 12 - 2012 with Ella Publishing - Taking 12 pictures on the 12th.

5. Layout a Day with Lain Ehmann - well doing layouts - lots of them.

6. Project 12 with Scrapbook and Cards Today - 12 double page monthly layouts featuring 2012.

7. 365 picture prompts - ideas galore for photography fans.

8. Log Your Memory - inspiration and prompts for 12 months of scrapping.

9. Photo Stores 2012 with Noell Hyman - adding stories to your photos and while I'm at it, Paperclipping Roundtable is always a great listen.

10. Big Picture Classes - wonderful workshops and instant download classes being added constantly.

Monday ...

2012-01-09T11:49:00.001+11:00

The boy is away and I've taken this week to buy him a new ned, sell the old one and clear out his bookcase, draws and cupboard. I'm surrounded with stuff, piles over here, piles over there, they aren't getting any smaller and I'm running out of space.

Maybe this wasn't such a great idea!!

Wednesday 4th ...

2012-01-04T19:47:00.001+11:00

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~ Aaron Rose

This year ....

2012-01-02T16:39:00.002+11:00

This year I would like to be a better blogger – to date it has been spasmodic at best and I think if I implement a set weekday blog routine it will help me keep on track of posting life stories and my scrappy projects on a more regular basis. This doesn’t mean I will always adhere to it and I give myself permission to add and delete to my weekly routine as the need arises. But a starting point is a starting point and I think one that matters.

Monday - I like to start the week with a smile so expect something light-hearted and fun each Monday. It may be a cartoon or fun saying – it might be something I've overheard or a joke that has been passed to me.

Tuesday - I might set Tuesday aside to show my updated Project Life for the previous week.

Wednesday - On Wednesday you might find a quote, an inspirational photograph or something amazing I've discovered online.

Thursday - This will be the day I mix it up a bit – who knows what you might find on here on a Thursday – you’ll need to stop by to see.

Friday - Friday I’ll share something I've made recently. Most weeks this will be a layout (either paper or digital) but there may be the occasional card, ATC or another project. Some weeks I may share something cool I've learned, a different or new way of doing something or using something.

Scrappy Projects for 2012

Last year I tried rather unsuccessfully to do 10 on 10 with Shimelle listing 10 things or links or whatever I fancied really on the 10th of each month. Some months was easy and others rather more difficult while I wracked my brain trying to come up with ideas. This year I thought I might try it again but I'm not going to get all tangled up in the "10" thing. If I get 10 great, if I end up with 8 or 6 even, well so be it. We'll see how it goes anyway!!

Project Life – I bought the full Project Life kit with the intention of doing it last year and it didn’t happen – in fact it didn't happen past my first initial look through the contents of the box. Why? Because at the time I really didn’t know where to start. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do the 365 photos a year thing as I had done that in 2009 and it near killed me, I started off fine but it became a chore, not a pleasurable pastime and I was scrambling for picture subjects for the later months of the year and getting all caught up in the “I must have a picture for every single day” thing. I wasn’t sure I wanted to simplify it to a monthly spread either but I knew that I wanted to keep it simple and enjoyable without the pressure of needing or wanting to record a picture every single day. So I left it and I waited to see what other people did with it – I was particularly interested to follow how Ali Edwards approached her Project Life and suddenly in a light bulb moment I said yes – that’s it – that’s how I want to approach it. Use the Project Life kit but also add my own bits and pieces of product – a journaling card here, a printed digital element there. I want it to not only reflect a year in the life of my family but a year in the life of who we are as Australians, where we lived and when we lived. I'm not going to take a photo everyday, I'm not even going to do a photos of all the events we do - it will be snippets of life, taken at random.

One Little Word - I enjoyed embracing my word Change in 2011 and the album I did with Ali Edwards at Big Picture Classes was a highlight in the year for me. I continue this project in 2012 with my new word Focus. May this year be as inspirational.

For some years now I have yearned to get the stories in my head of memories of my childhood and younger years down onto paper and obviously I have done this to some extent in the many, many layouts I have produced over the years. This year I liked the fresh approach of keeping a journal and have decided to follow along with Emily Falconbridge with her Remember When year long journey.

2012 Goals for a better life ...

I don't make resolutions unless it's the one not to make resolutions!! but every year I think I like to add some goals and challenges I'd like to overcome, this year being no different to any other.

Family Relationships - We need to spend more quality time as a family so this year I want to FOCUS on one family activity at least once per month.

Marital relationship - I also don't spend enough time with my husband in one on one time and I'd like to improve that with at least one night out together once per month.

Health – Eat better and move more - enough said!

Just for me - Read at least one book a week*

* Agatha Christie – There are 91 books written by Agatha Christie – over the years I have read many of them but it has long been my desire to say that I have read them all so it is this year that I start – I estimate that it may well take me several years as I also wish to read other novels in between these but working my way through the very long list of her works seems like a good approach. I spend a lot of hours at the swimming pool while the boy swims squads and the best approach to passing time is to read – I figure why not use this for my pursuit of Agatha.

Join a book club

Continue with my memory keeping journey. Make the most of the design teams I am on and continue with a few scrapbooking classes online but choose these more wisely – do what I know I can realistically complete, those that enhance and stimulate me.

Attend 3 or 4 scrapbooking retreats – Take in the company of friends and the stimulation of creativity or just plain relax in the peace and quiet. Make the experience more about me and less about the amount of scrapbooking.

But most of all ENJOY LIFE !!!

Monday ...

2012-01-02T07:41:00.000+11:00

And so it begins ...

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001+11:00

"Another fresh new year is here . . .

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!"

~ William Arthur Ward ~

12 days of Christmas ...

2011-12-30T21:29:00.003+11:00

I've been playing along with a Christmas layouts class - well I should correct that .... I've been attempting to play along with a Christmas layouts class - unsuccessfully it seems. Have all good intentions (like always) but just can't seem to eek out sufficient time to get them done. Not all bad news though I've done four so far so a quarter!! of the 12 layouts - I'll get there in the end and add them here as I go along.

Day 1 - inspiration from Darcy Dowdle

Day 2 - inspiration from May Flaum

Can't show this one atm as it's an inspiration piece for January From Screen 2 Scrap.

Day 3 - inspiration from Karen Grunberg.

Day 4 - inspiration from Tami Morrison

Non Australian Christmas wishes ...

2011-12-20T14:32:00.000+11:00

I've done very little non December Daily or Journal Your Christmas scrapbooking this month - in fact I've been a very bad blogger all round. It will be on my New Year's resolution to do better in 2012.

I have however, put together a layout for ARTastic where this pretty little painting "A blessing of Christmas" by Thomas Kinkade of a wintry snow scene got me to thinking about how irrelevant I find Christmas cards we receive each year with these types of depictions are to us in Australia where our Christmas' are usually hot and summery.

Added criteria was to include a snowman, Christmas tree and the word "Christmas" in the title.

Wild weather ...

2011-12-12T23:26:00.000+11:00

Baby it's wild outside - we had 125mm of rain in a 24hr period (mostly between 5am and 6.30am) making 12th Dec the wettest December Day for 91 years where I live. Roads were closed all over - long delays everywhere.

Anyone for using the drive through for a Maccers breakfast?

My hubby drove to work in this ..

10 things ....

2011-12-10T01:26:00.001+11:00

My 10 things post this month for Shimelle are links to 10 gorgeous free Christmas scrap goodies ...

1. Christmas Sayings

2. Word Art poster

3. Printable Photo Box

4. Adorable Sock Snowmen

5. Holiday Gift Tags

6. Christmas Card printable

7. Christmas tags and more

8. Christmas printable to frame

9. Christmas Wreath

10. Can't have 10 Christmas things without including some holiday cheer ...

Christmas crafting with Shimelle ...

2011-11-12T19:11:00.006+11:00

Yes it is November - you haven't slept a month and Christmas has snuck up on you unawares. This sort of freaks me out .. not because it's Christmas craft or it's Shimelle but because it is a "in your face" reminder that Christmas is just around the corner and for us in Australia that means school holidays (OMG!!!) and in my case, 7 weeks of them and the summer heat and flies - no not the flies!

But I digress - Shimelle has put together a series of Christmas challenges for those that follow her AND she's also tied this in nicely with her Pretty Paper Party class I have been attempting to do this past month (BTW this class was brilliant - one of her best - do it if you can).

Card Challenge

Create a project with a circle design in the centre (of a card, a scrapbook page or another crafting project) OR create a project using your supplies in a different-than-expected way.

This is a card I made last weekend at a crop day. There are circles stamped on the base of the card and the ornament is circular in shape. I've used small pieces of left over paper and cardstock.

Tags - Create a holiday gift tag design that’s easy to replicate!

This design is so quick and easy and uses up all those little pieces of scrap.

Cut - Create a project with a design you have cut from patterned paper.

Scrapbooking Wakeup Call

Share a link to a favourite Christmas project you have made – whether it was this year or many years ago (just not something you have made this weekend).

I have two layouts that I very much like - one in paper and one digital but very simple which is my style.

This one uses a photo from Christmas 2001 when my son was 3 and a total live wire. We had gotten through the two's relatively unscathed only to be greeted with the tumultuous three's in triplicate. Getting him to sit still for a photo was near impossible on a good day and throw in the excitement of Santa and Christmas and wow - we were in trouble. This was a rare shot and thereby special.

The next one is a happy photo from Christmas 2009 showing two siblings comfortable in their relationship. I hope they remain this way for their lifetimes.

A Christmas dilemma ...

2011-11-12T18:37:00.001+11:00

It's not often that I am torn but torn I am this year.

Christmas scrapbooking .... yes I know it is ONLY November and here we are talking about ..... not only talking about it but actively participating ... in it. Thank you SO much Miss Shimelle and Ali E :)

Last year I started getting my pages ready for December Daily and very nearly completed the prep on them only to decide at the eleventh hour that I really preferred the Journal Your Christmas method of portraying the silly season and went on to do my 2010 album in that vane. Not that I don't love what Ali does but my family aren't great doers of Christmas stuff and I just worry I won't have enough daily "things" to fill an album - at least I used to worry about that but now I'm convinced that the daily "things" are just as much about Christmas as the Christmassy stuff is!

So this year I find myself with a large box of Christmas scrappy goodness and packets of Christmas scrappy papers - pretty papers you might call them ! - and I'm torn. Do I use the pages I nearly had ready last year for Ali or do I do a new Journal Your Christmas 2011 album with Shimelle?

The obvious answer is to do them both but my head tells me that could well be a recipe for disaster - doing one major project is hard enough and will push the boundaries of time and effort at this usually busy time of the year anyway but to attempt two? I don't know - maybe. I am toying with using the transparency sheets and then using the digital templates Ali has for this project to create a 6x8 photo montage and then just print these out at a photo lab - a hybrid method might streamline the process, perhaps.

I could then use the cut 6x8 Christmas paper in an album for Shimelle in a more traditional sense ... again perhaps. What I really need to do is make a decision SOON.

Remembering ...

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001+11:00

11.11.11

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their war dead.

In 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minute's silence at 11 am on 11 November each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

10 things on the 10th ...

2011-11-10T10:34:00.001+11:00

10 things I have enjoyed in the last 10 days ...

Listening to Adele – absolutely love her ...

Reading new release books – Kathy Reichs and Matthew Reilly

Enjoying scrapbooking on-line classes (Pretty Paper with Shimelle)

Going to Open Houses in search of the perfect property ...

Making Christmas cards

Going to the movies - Midnight in Paris, if you haven't seen it you must, just pure delight.

Preparing the pool for summer fun ...

Getting the garden in order – weeding and pruning and removing old plants ...

Preparing for Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle and December Daily with Ali ...

10. Spending time with family ...

Hmmmm ...

2011-11-08T07:30:00.000+11:00

Somedays I just feel like this ....

Plover chicks ...

2011-11-04T11:24:00.000+11:00

Our local resident Plovers have chicks again this year. Three this time - we can only hope they manage to get them all to adulthood. Most years they lose one or two along the way - from dogs and cats and careless drivers. These little guys are past the tiny baby stage and might have more of a fighting chance. Mum and Dad are extremely protective of the babies and challenge anyone that comes too close - they call constantly to the chicks to keep them together.

So very cute.

Cleaning ...

2011-11-02T13:16:00.007+11:00

This house is the dustiest I have ever lived in - and I've lived in a lot of houses! I'm not sure if the high raked ceilings are to blame, the ducted air conditioning, the proximity to the national park or what?

This is what the tops of my kitchen cupboards looked like when Dh and I decided they needed a good clean

EOOOOOW !!!! How bad is this???? Easy to see where the display item sat eh?

And then 30 minutes and several buckets of clean water later ...

SUCCESS !

Being Guest Designer ...

2011-11-01T10:01:00.000+11:00

I'm Guest Designer over on ARTastic for November which is kind of exciting.

The challenge this month is to use this picture - Bacchus by Caravaggio as inspiration. The extra criteria is to use fruit or grapes on your page, a wine glass or bottle and a bow.

As challenges go this one was actually rather difficult as trying to find a photo that would work was enormously frustrating. I had no wine related embellishments at all in my stash and a quick trip to my LSS held no joy either. Eventually I decided to go with much of the criteria in the actual photo.

ARTastic for October ...

2011-10-23T18:09:00.000+11:00

Over on ARTastic this month we are finding inspiration from this rather different painting - Dr Jekyll's Hideaway by Maryanne Jacobsen.

The added criteria for October is to add a house, trees and have an overall spooky feel to your page.

I must admit this one really had me thinking. My kids have never done Halloween and the few dress up spooky pictures I have taken over the years have long since been scrapped. Hmmm what to do?? Then I remembered a visit to my MIL last year where I dragged her around an historic graveyard in Windsor in search of the final resting places of a number of distant "first fleet" relatives - could there be a suitable photo in this lot? And luckily there was.

I've kept this layout reasonable plain and quite dark to add to the spooky feel and included a hand drawn and cut out tree and suitable spooky house.

A little something ...

2011-10-14T23:56:00.000+11:00

Having trouble uploading my last two layouts to Peta's challenge so need to host them somewhere fast. These are for the 26th and the 29th.

Weekly sketch with Shimelle ...

2011-10-08T14:12:00.000+11:00

Sketch time at Shimelle's yet again. This week we are working on this inspiration.

I've used more photos of our holiday at the beginning of they year - this time of the maze at The Butterfly House. We spent some time heading down paths, avoiding dead end whilst trying to find all the hidden clues on our long list. We all eventually made it to the middle only to discover yet another maze and puzzle to solve.

LSNE - 30th September

2011-09-30T19:05:00.001+10:00

The back of the carpark across the road from where my daughter works part-time has a resident population of wild ducks. I caught them napping when I dropped her off tonight ....

Being Sassy in September ...

2011-09-30T10:43:00.002+10:00

I've been doing pages based on sketches from Sassy Little Sketches this month via Peta's September competition on Scrapbooking From Scratch.

Sketch 1

I've been redoing a few pages from my now 18 year old daughter's album - not the whole album just some layouts/photos I really didn't like and were done when I first started scrapbooking. These photos were one set from that small pile - I'm much happier this time around!

Sketch 2

I used this sketch for a fun layout on my son and his rather obsessive attachment to his computer.

Sketch 3

This sketch really appealed to my simple style and I'm pleased with how my layout came out.

Sketch 4

Really like this page - I'm using a one off pic from Christmas a number of years I hadn't scrapped before. Love that it captured a quiet moment on Christmas Day.

123 ...

2011-09-29T22:34:00.001+10:00

Thought I might join in with 123 Challenges this month where the challenge criteria was to use the colour white, the word ON and the technique of white space. Here is my take on this where I have used predominantly white with just light touches of colour on a minimalist layout.

Scrapjacked for September ...

2011-09-29T15:18:00.001+10:00

I'm running late in putting up my layout from inspiration gleaned from Scrapjacked this month. This time I used the layout by Vicki as my inspiration. I really like how she has made the central focal spot of her layout a large rectangle and her use of string across the page as well as the large circular embellishment on the left of the photo.

Here is my own take on her layout ...

LNSE - 29th September

2011-09-29T11:24:00.002+10:00

I live in a beautiful part of the world - I should NEVER lose sight of that.

LSNE - 28 September

2011-09-28T12:32:00.000+10:00

Mr Zo just loves sitting in the sunshine and will follow the rays that stream through our skylight window onto patches of the floor. It doesn't seem to matter to him that the spots are small and he's a very large cat - just so long as he can get part of himself into the warmth he is happy.

LSNE - 27th September

2011-09-27T14:20:00.001+10:00

It is the school holidays and I've given ds the task of cleaning up his Lego collection - atm it is all thrown together in tubs. He's decided to put together all his "kits" which means rebuilding the models .... one very big job.

LSNE - 26th September

2011-09-26T15:38:00.000+10:00

My daughter and her boyfriend flew to Melbourne today - her first major trip by herself (well almost by herself). She's been overseas before with school groups which were fully chaperoned and strictly supervised but this was a trip on their own, by train, plane and negotiating a strange city.

Part of me rejoices in her maturity and in the fact that she is growing and pulling away from us as she increases her independence. The other part of me is sad because as much as I love her and want her to be independent it is sometimes hard for a Mother to let go.

Sketches and senses ...

2011-09-25T22:07:00.000+10:00

Another sketch from Shimelle this week which I have combined with a challenge from Soul Scrappers as they work so beautifully together. As a member of several design teams I do get a little frustrated when people use the one layout for multiple challenges - I just don't feel this is fair to those that take the time and make the effort to do separate layouts especially when prizes are involved. My exception to this rule is when you use a sketch from one site and combine it with a inspiration challenge from another.

The challenge was to portray the sense of smell in a layout based on for summer.. This is a series of sense challenges upcoming for the next few weeks.

Here is my take ...

LSNE- 25th September

2011-09-25T19:51:00.001+10:00

The skies opened today and the rain came down in absolute torrents. It was incredibly loud on the hall roof where I was retreat scrapbooking. The old gutter system certainly wasn't coping with the sheer volume of water and it was overflowing along large sections. A very good day to be inside.

LSNE - 24th September

2011-09-24T14:56:00.002+10:00

There is just something about attending scrapbooking retreats that cleanses and restores me. Just a couple of days where I can do what I want when I want to do it, not having to clean or cook or answer questions or break up arguments, where I can go to bed when I want and get up when I like, where I can stand under the shower for 30 minutes if I so desire and have that extra piece of slice if I so wish, where I can spread out all my scrapbooking stuff across a large table and just create what I want is pure unadulterated bliss.

LSNE - 23rd September

2011-09-23T15:24:00.000+10:00

Spring can be beautiful - simple as that ...

LSNE - 22nd September

2011-09-22T12:15:00.000+10:00

Today I had a banana on my cereal! Woo Hoo monumental day!! For the better part of a year I have been buying bananas in one and twos only and they have been carefully handed out to the boy for school lunches because with braces he finds it hard to eat any other fruit. The terrible cyclone and storms that ravished northern Queensland at the end of last year and early this one not only caused massive damage to homes and livelihoods but they decimated crops of bananas. Prices sky rocketed but now at long last trees have regrown and fruit is back to being plentiful and with it the prices are back to affordable. I have missed my bananas.

LSNE - 21st September

2011-09-21T11:16:00.001+10:00

Much of what my daughter does at TAFE for her graphic design diploma is a mystery to me - I see her working away hard at the computer or upon a sketch pad at her desk. Every now and again I get a small glimpse of the creative process.

LSNE - 20th September

2011-09-20T21:34:00.000+10:00

One of the benefits of having a daughter who works in a pizza and pasta restaurant is that she has learnt how to make some really delicious dishes ...

LSNE - 19 September

2011-09-19T19:45:00.000+10:00

There are days when I really, really, appreciate the fact that I have a daughter who has now finished school and is willing to help her brother who is in the first year of high school. I feel the a weight has somewhat been lifted.

LSNE - 18 September

2011-09-18T21:28:00.001+10:00

Our entire family is a lover of Rowan Atkinson - his exploits as Johnny English and Mr Bean have left us with fond memories and sore sides from laughter over the years. ds was such a Mr Bean fan he had the full bedroom set up and his very favourite companions were these three little guys.

So naturally when Johnny English made another appearance on our screen we mad an immediate trip to the local movies to see him. We weren't disappointed - much fun was had by all.

Being ARTastic ...

2011-09-18T14:40:00.000+10:00

ARTastic have a beautiful painting for inspiration this month. It's Almond Blossom by Vincent Van Gogh. I just adore the vivid blue in this painting and the little details in the flowers. Just gorgeous.

The extra criteria for this challenge was to use a blue background, white flowers and a brown or white title.

My layout this month is quite detailed as well. It has lots of little flowers and pieces of lace, buttons, pearl brads and other little touches. I've used a partial sheet of vivid blue paper cut as a circle circle for the background as well as cutting blue and white flowers from another sheet. I've inked the clear acrylic title in brown to form the title.

LSNE - 17th September

2011-09-17T10:00:00.000+10:00

I love to read. I used to sneak a flashlight to bed with me when I was a child and I'd read by it's yellow glow secreted under the covers. It was my guilty pleasure - a clandestine meeting of paper and mind.

Now I've come to rely on reading as part of my daily ritual - I find I don't sleep well unless I spend at least 30 minutes each night with book in hand. I'll devour nearly anything, from science fiction to murder mysteries, historical romances to chic flick .... just so long as I can read.

LSNE - 16th September

2011-09-16T11:35:00.000+10:00

Miss Bella is the funniest little thing - she loves going outside and the merest touch on the handle of our french doors will bring her running from wherever she is in the house in the hope of some R&R in the great outdoors.

LSNE - 15th September

2011-09-15T14:53:00.000+10:00

Cats! - you have to love em :)

LSNE - 14th September

2011-09-14T16:05:00.000+10:00

We all have work to do in this life - sometimes the lesson is harder for the young.

LSNE - 13th September

2011-09-13T12:56:00.002+10:00

Spring has sprung in my neighbourhood.

Now what's that old ditty .....

Spring is sprung, the grass is ris.
I wonders where the birdies is.
They say the birds is on the wing.
Ain't that absurd?
I always thought the wing was on the bird.

LSNE - 12th September

2011-09-12T11:49:00.000+10:00

It's how I start each day ...

LSNE - 11th September

2011-09-11T15:01:00.002+10:00

We have been doing this for quite a while now - our Sunday morning ritual of breakfast in bed and watching the ABC political TV panel "The Insiders". It's become "our" special time, just an hour or so every week dedicated just to us - bliss.

LSNE - 10th September

2011-09-10T22:31:00.000+10:00

My son currently has 5 friends in our family room playing the Wii and eating lots of sugary substances - birthday sleepovers are part and parcel of growing up.

10 things ...

2011-09-10T11:19:00.001+10:00

It's the 10th of the month and today over on Shimelle we list 10 things.

Garfield is no fan of getting up or starting the week with Monday - I can relate so as I'm feeling lighthearted today I thought I might share with you 10 of my personal favourite Garfield Monday/morning wallpapers.

LSNE - 9th September

2011-09-09T20:09:00.000+10:00

Today my baby turns 13 (and yes I wonder where the years have gone). We didn't do a cake today as we are having a sleepover party with all his friends tomorrow but we couldn't let the day pass without some candles and the obligatory Happy Birthday song.

LSNE - 8th September

2011-09-08T10:01:00.001+10:00

It's the annual Springtime Flora Festival and without fail it rains at some point over the four day event. Sometimes I might be just overnight, other times it may be full on rain over several days but you can bet your bottom dollar - it will rain at some point.

It's day 2 today and as I look out my window it is coming down in sheets - yep it must be Floral Festival time.

LSNE - 7th September

2011-09-07T17:15:00.000+10:00

LSNE - 7th September

2011-09-07T13:57:00.001+10:00

I loathe, hate, despise ironing. Yes I should get over it but I haven't.

Sketch of the Week ...

2011-09-06T22:29:00.000+10:00

It's time to upload my rendition of Shimelle's Sketch of the Week. Quite a pretty little layout this week from Shimelle.

Here's my version. Really pleased with how this has turned out. I'm continuing my theme of using pictures we took on our holiday to Coffs Harbour and surrounds in January for Shimelle's sketches.

LSNE - 5th September

2011-09-06T09:47:00.001+10:00

He turns 13 on Friday and he squad trains twice a week (and an extra night if his sister isn't working and I don't need to drive her to her job). They average 4km each training session - that's 80 laps of the 50m pool. They do this in one and a half hours. I'm exhausted just watching him.

Stuck in September ...

2011-09-05T08:41:00.001+10:00

I'm joining in with Stuck sketches this month via Peta's September competition on Scrapbooking From Scratch. Their first sketch is quite a nice one and is open to lots of different interpretations.

I thought I'd use some photographs of my son at a friend's birthday party I was yet to scrap and combine them with a SFS kit of Teresa Collins birthday papers.

The second sketch was more formal in design using lots of little bits and pieces.

I've used a SFS kit (Sassafrass Lass - Indie Girl) to create my page.

LSNE - 4th September

2011-09-04T21:24:00.000+10:00

Today was Father's Day here in Australia - a day for breakfast in bed, a trip to Bunnings (hardware) and the love of children for their Dad.

LSNE - 3rd September

2011-09-03T11:39:00.000+10:00

Cats + sunshine - what a happy combination.

LSNE - 2nd September

2011-09-02T19:00:00.001+10:00

Woke to brilliant sunshine, birds chirping and not a cloud in the sky. By 11am it looks like this ....

Learn Something New Everyday - 2011

2011-09-01T23:06:00.011+10:00

It is THAT time of year again - the time when all good scrapbookers head over to Shimelle and participate in Learning Something New .... Everyday.

Shimelle has been doing this class now since 2006. She focuses on just one sentence and maybe one photo per day for thirty days.

As she says "Learn Something New encourages you to take each day as it comes and find at least one thing in every day that can teach you something. Something big, something small, something funny, something solemn. Some days you might learn a random fact and others might teach you something about patience, determination or reflection. Every day is a new opportunity, and we track it all through things we love: some photographs, a bit of writing and as much pretty paper as we fancy."

It is truly amazing to see how scrappers from all over the world interrupt this class - there are elaborate albums, tiny mini, mini albums, digital versions and simple pages - the sky really is the limit in depth and variety of projects.

Last year I did photographs with a digital overlay and it worked really well for me so I couldn't see a reason to change the format although I have changed the overlay slightly. At the end of the month I will print these all out and then create some sort of album with them - exactly how is still being mulled over.

Some Scrappy fun ...

2011-08-31T20:33:00.000+10:00

SFS ‘Sketchaday” comp

Starts Sept 1^st 2011

[tomorrow morning]

Come on over and check it out in the forum

Have you lost your mojo?

Need a hand getting those photos onto layouts?

Well what are you waiting for - this comp

is designed for you :)

Each day a new sketch will be added for you to

play along with.

Daily, weekly and MAJOR prizes will be given – lots of random draws for everyone to have a chance to be a winner.

Major Prize is a 6 month Subscription

to the SFS Designer Kit Subs

[3 kits valued @ $135]

Albums, kits, shop vouchers and more will be given away.

Including an eBook from a sketch blog

[announced later in the week]

Come on over and join in the fun

– Forum chatting isn’t a must but you will have to join to be able to load your pages.

Scrap Jacked August ...

2011-08-29T13:48:00.000+10:00

Always enjoy playing along over at Scrap Jacked. Each month there is a wealth of lovely layouts and inspirational ideas just waiting to be borrowed.

This month my eye was taken by this layout from Bec. I really like the wonderful patterned paper she used and I remembered I had similar hidden away in the deep dark recesses of my stash.

This paper lent itself very nicely to a vintage photo - namely my parents when they were so young and carefree and very much in love.

Crop time with Shimelle ...

2011-08-22T00:39:00.000+10:00

I've been busy this week doing a number of challenge layouts for Shimelle's crop last weekend - thank goodness she gave us this week to finish them or I wouldn't have had a chance of getting anything done. As it stands I have missed a few but I'm well pleased with what I have managed to get done.

Chop Your Paper Layout - Create a project (layout, card, etc) that is embellished with paper rather than embellishments. Take a piece of paper (or two) and chop it up until you have enough to dress up your page!

My layout has been created from one sheet of Scenic Route paper.

Grid it Up challenge - Create a project with a grid as a design element! You can interpret that any way you wish! Get creative!

I've been very boring I know and done the traditional 9 square grid.

Go retro challenge - You have to scrapbook a photo from before 2011. No current pictures allowed. If you can, embrace the idea and scrap something a bit retro or something from your childhood, but I totally understand not everyone has pictures like that at the ready. So anything that is not 2011 will be acceptable!

When I think about my bedroom buy in the grim dark ages of my youth I remember the chenelle bedspread, the travel alarm clocks and the bottles of perfume (invariably the Avon variety on my dressing table.

3 is the magic number - Create a project (layout, card, etc) that includes a group of three in the embellishment. It can be three kinds of flowers like I used, but that’s not a requirement – you could use three squares, three butterflies, three things that are red, three apples, three hedgehogs… whatever group of three takes your fancy!

Terrible picture I know but this is what happens when you take photos of layouts at night. I'll try to put up another in the morning if I have time. Lots of 3's.

Half page challenge - Create a layout that only uses half the page. It can be whatever half you would like, but somewhere around half the page space needs to be breathing room!

Although not strictly a 6x12 or a 12x6 this layout really only uses half a page.

Signature accent challenge - create a page with a product or a technique you love so much you use it relatively often. Maybe it’s become your signature accent! Whatever it might be, put it on show and share it with us!

I love kraft cardstock and using buttons and if I can do this on the one layout I'm a very happy little bunny indeed.

Butterflies and bingo cards - all you have to do is create something inspired by the video. It can be very similar to the page if you like, or you can take inspiration from any element you like – the colours, the photo placement, any technique – whatever takes your fancy. Then upload your project to your blog or a page gallery like Two Peas or UKScrappers and leave a link to the post (not your blog’s main page) in the box below.

No guesses for what inspired me.

Sketching with Shimelle ...

2011-08-21T11:43:00.000+10:00

I'd like to share two layouts I have done using Shimelle's sketch of the week. I'm continuing on using photographs of our holiday to Coffs Harbour back in January - I'll definitely have an entire album (ie photo book) done of this vacation by the year end just using these sketches as inspiration.

This first one is based on this sketch and layout example.

Journaling reads ... The mosaic mural outside the Tourist Information Centre in Dorrigo is a national treasure. It depicts the town and the surrounds in a wonderful abstraction. The amazing depth, texture and colour represents the wonderful skill of the artists involved as well as the love of the townspeople for their natural environment. A truly beautiful piece of art.

While the second is using this sketch.

I've used some photographs of inside the main building at Opal Cove (the resort we stayed at in Coffs Harbour). They had a rather impressive cascading water feature and little walkway bridge which very much set the tone of the overall resort. Very relaxed and welcoming.

Renoir at play ...

2011-08-18T09:53:00.000+10:00

The inspiration challenge over on ARTastic this month features a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

The Playing Claude Renoir by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (25 February 1841 – 3 December 1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. Renoir is perhaps the best-loved of all the Impressionists, for his subjects---pretty children, flowers, beautiful scenes, above all lovely women---have instant appeal, and he communicated the joy he took in them with great directness.

The additional criteria for this challenge was:-

Ribbon = 1 point
A photo of a child or child playing = 2 points
Paint your own background = 3 points

I've used photos of my son and his friend playing in the pool at a local resort last summer holidays. They had such a great time, going up and down the water slide and in and out of the various levels of the pool complex. I've painted the background of my layout with white paint and used a thin ribbon across the strip of patterned paper. All criteria covered.

80’s August - Day 11

2011-08-17T13:49:00.000+10:00

The nominees are:-

Song A – Swanee – If I were a carpenter

John Swan, better known as Swanee, is an Australian rock singer. He is the older brother of rock singer Jimmy Barnes and the uncle of singer and stage performer David Campbell. He emigrated to Australia with his family in 1961. When his mother remarried in the mid-60s, he was the only child to keep his natural father's surname. While his music career has never reached the heights of that of his more famous younger brother, Swan is well known and respected in his own right.

Song B – The Weather Girls – It’s raining menn

The Weather Girls are an American girl group that formed in 1977 with Marsha Wash and Izora Armstead and became best known for their single It’s raining men, released in 1982 which went on to sell 6 million copies worldwide.

And the winner is

Song B – The Weather Girls – It’s raining men

80’s August - Day 10

2011-08-16T09:27:00.000+10:00

The nominees are:-

Song A – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight I celebrate my love

"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" is a song recorded as a duet single released in 1983 by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. It became a big hit for both singers, peaking at number sixteen on th Billboard Top 100 and number five on the Hot R&B chart. It also peaked at number two in the UK, becoming the 25th best selling single of 1983 in the UK. It boosted the careers of both stars and brought them both a return to prominence.

Peabo Bryson (born Robert Peapo Bryson on April 13, 1951, given name changed from "Peapo" to Peabo c. 1965) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. He is well known for singing soft-rock ballads (often as a duo with female singers) and his contribution to several Disney animated feature soundtracks.

Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B and folk music. Flack is best known for her Hot 100 #1 singles The first time ever I saw your face, Killing me softly with his song.

Song B – Tim Finn – Made my day

Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE (born 25 June 1952) is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in Crowded House and his joint effort with younger brother Neil Finn.

And the winner is ….

Song B – Tim Finn – Made my day

80’s August - Day 9

2011-08-12T09:22:00.000+10:00

A bit lop sided today with the nominations - think it was a foregone decision before we even started!!!

The nominees are:-

Song A – Katrina and the waves – Walking on Sunshine

Katrina and the Waves were an English pop group formed in the 1980s, best known for their 1985 hit Walking on sunshine and their 1997 Eurovision Song Contest victory with the song Love shine a light.

Song B – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

Do I really need to tell you who Michael Jackson was? No??? I didn’t think so!!

And the winner is ...

Song B – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean of course!!

10 things ...

2011-08-11T21:08:00.000+10:00

10 good things in no particular order ...

10. I stuck my name down on the reservation list at my local library as soon as this little beauty showed on their online catalogue as “awaiting administration” which is library speak for “it’s on order and when it’s released we’ll get it OK?” I’m at Number 1 …. Yes!!!

9. The wattle is out everywhere. It’s so beautiful, such a rich golden colour but I feel for all those people with allergies. This time of year can be hard on the sinuses.

8. The squares I am knitting for a throw rug are coming along nicely. Winter is a great time to knit and I enjoy spending an hour or so each night making some progress on this while watching a bit of TV.

7. Winter sales are on everywhere – seems every store I walk past has 40 … 50 even 60% off right now. There’s even been opportunity to grab some summer bargains from sale stock of leftover from earlier this year. After all a plain tee is a plain tee and who doesn’t want to pay $5 instead of $29.95.

6. Really good time of year to catch up with friends for a coffee or two. Even taking the daughter out to lunch has its appeal.

5. It is getting lighter every day. I was trying to read in the semi dark while waiting for ds at swimming squad training now it is still light when we finish up at 5.30pm. Been thinking it won’t be long and maybe I’ll start going for a walk rather than read.

4. The dh finally bought himself new bike shoes and a new road bike – after 35 years!!! I’ve been talking myself blue for years about upgrading and now he has finally done it.

3. Those driving hours dd needs (120 of them) are slowly adding up – need to update her driving log but I estimate she is close to 100 now and with luck she should have her provisional license by year end. Then I go grey that little bit faster.

2. These cooler nights make sleeping a pleasant experience. There is nothing quite like snuggling down under the covers for a good sleep. I need to remember to turn off the electric blanket as soon as I jump out of bed in the morning though - otherwise certain feline family members like to take advantage.

1. Driving past here every weekday morning (twice) and every weekday afternoon (twice) is a privilege I don't recognise nor acknowledge enough.

80’s August - Day 8

2011-08-11T08:55:00.000+10:00

The nominees are:-

Song A – Terence Trent D’Arby – Wishing Well

Sananda Francesco Maitreya (born Terence Trent Howard, March 15, 1962), better known by his former stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, is an American singer songwriter who came to fame with his album Introducing the Hardline according to Terence Trent D’Arby, released in July 1987, which included the singles "Wishing Well" and "Sign Your Name". The album has sold over 12 million copies.

Song B – Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy

Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song “Don’t worry be happy” which was a No. 1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won song of the year and record of the year honours. He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.

And the winner is ….

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy

EXPLORE - Day 17

2011-08-10T09:14:00.000+10:00

Shimelle's prompt for today included three different ways to write about our progress with our week-long goal - three very different options depending on what type of journey each of us is taking with our chosen goal.

# Use a personal mission statement, manifesto or motto. State what you are going to do and why.

# Write about the past (in past tense) but allow yourself to look forward as well. Say why you have not been able to complete your goal in the past but also propose why you intend to do so now.

# Use the calendar to track your progress. Write down on your calendar, diary or daily planner what you have achieved each day towards your ultimate goal.

I prefer the calendar method. I don't always work to this but when I do have a lot on my plate I write it down on a monthly printout sheet my end goal with expectations of where I will be at certain points - it helps me stay focused.

80’s August - Day 7

2011-08-09T22:04:00.000+10:00

The nominees are:-

Song A – NKOTB – The Right Stuff

New Kids on the Block (also initialised as NKOTB) are an American boy band assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. NKOTB enjoyed success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and have sold 80 million records worldwide.

Song B – Jackson Browne - Somebody’s Baby

Jackson Browne (born Clyde Jackson Browne) is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the US alone. Browne’s political interests and personal angst have been central to his music.

And the winner is ...

Song B – Jackson Browne - Somebody’s Baby

EXPLORE - Day 16

2011-08-09T10:08:00.000+10:00

This is the final week of Explore with Shimelle and she has us focusing our exploration of a goal (one we need to choose for ourselves).

So what is it I want to accomplish this week?

The obvious is that I’d really like to finish this class – catching up with blog entries and my little workbook as I am a bit behind with both – I can see a lot of class participants will have that as one of their goals.

I also know that Shimelle will have an entire weekend of crafty goodness and fun for us with her upcoming crop starting on the 12th. These crops are always so motivational so I can’t wait to jump in with whatever she has in store for us.

Big Picture Classes starts their free summer class Big Idea Festival on the 15^th and runs for 12 days with a wealth of very talented ladies leading the way. These free classes are well thought out and again provide such great inspiration. This year I believe we will be putting together a mini album – a page per day.

Add that to my existing Design Team commitments at From Screen 2 Scrap (where we are also celebrating our 2nd birthday this month with extra wonderful challenges I would also like to participate in myself) plus Soul Scrappers and I can tell I will literally be inundated with challenges for the next several weeks. I may well need some staminade to get through it all this month! It never rains but it pours so they say.

So I guess my goal for this week and the next couple is to stay focused, remain positive and try to keep on top of these crops, classes and challenges to take full advantage of the inspiration and education they provide.

On a non-scrappy focus note … I’d like to finish cleaning my vertical blinds. I’m in the process of taking down the vertical slats and wiping over each one individually – it is amazing how many little stains and spills seem to land on these blinds and how time consuming the job of properly cleaning them is. I have three large windows to do and am only half way through the first but this goal is achievable! Focus!!

80’s August - Day 6

2011-08-08T09:11:00.001+10:00

The nominees are:-

Song A – Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

The Pointer Sisters (June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth) - an American pop/R&B recording act from California who achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trioo during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth and Anita. Sister Bonnie had left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with only modest success. Best known for songs, He’s so Shy, Fire, Slow hand to name but a few.

Song B – Deniece Williams – Let’s hear it for the boys

June Deniece Chandler an American Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer in the 1970s and 1980s. Her music was influenced by soul and funk. In 1984, Williams released the album Let’s hear if for the boy’s in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Footloose.

And the winner is ….

Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

80’s August – Day 5 ...

2011-08-05T08:53:00.000+10:00

Two classics today.

The nominees are:-

Song A – Black Lace - Agadoo

Black Lace is a British Euro pop band best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, “Agadoo”. The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song “Mary Ann”. With numerous line-up changes, Black Lace went on to have success with a number of lightweight party anthems such as "Superman", "Agadoo" and "Do The Conga".

Song B – Men without hats – Safety Dance

Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the early to mid 1980s with their most successful single, “The Safety Dance” which was a Top 10 hit in both the US and the UK.

And the winner is:- (check out those skin tight black pants!!!!)

80’s August – Day 4 ...

2011-08-04T09:36:00.000+10:00

80’s August – Day 4

The nominees are:-

Song A – Hall and Oates – You make my dreams

Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryle Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and R&B styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul." Hall & Oates' songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of new wave and hard rock.

Song B – Chaka Khan – I feel for you

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens; March 23, 1953) is an American singer and composer who gained fame in the 1970s as the front and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and as a solo performer, include Tell me something good, Sweet thing, Aint Nobody, I’m every woman, I feel for you and Through the fire.

And the winner is

EXPLORE - Day 13

2011-08-03T18:43:00.000+10:00

Today, in our week of colour exploration, is about putting our scraps of patterned paper to good use by creating colour combinations with them.

I already do this. I'm one of those people who like to use as much of my patterned paper as I possible can. I tend to choose my scraps by either the colour method where I pull out a main piece of paper(usually one with a multicoloured pattern) and then gather co-ordinating pieces to go with it. I then set these aside in a page protector ready to add a photo at some point.

My other method is to choose papers to match a particular picture I intend to use. Here I look for papers with colours already present in the picture I am using, paying particular attention to the mood I wish to create within the layout. For example these pictures from Pinterest show how you can pull out colours from a picture to best effect.

These would create a layout of tranquility and calm.

This picture says happy and bright so the colours pulled from it reflect that positive feeling.

There is no denying this colour palette says cold and remote.

80's August - Day 3 ...

2011-08-03T12:34:00.001+10:00

Day 3

The nominees are:-

Song A – Tommy Tutone - 8675309/Jenny

Tommy Tutone is a New Wave band best known for its 1982 hit 8675309/Jenny which peaked at #4 on the UD Hot 100. The song became so popular that people in the US to this day dial this telephone number and ask for Jenny as a prank. Although the band is frequently remembered as a one hit wonder it had another top 40 hit on the Hot 100 with "Angel Say No" in 1980, predating "Jenny" by a couple of years.

Song B – Jefferson Starship – We built this city

Jefferson Starship is an American rock band that was formed in the early 1970s. Its recording career and popularity peaked in the early '80s,with a series of hits in the mid-'80s, including the chart-toppers "We Built This City," "Sara," and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" in a polished, mainstream pop/rock style before splitting up in the early '90s.

And the winner is ….

80's August - Day 2 ...

2011-08-02T10:08:00.001+10:00

Day 2

Song A Toni Basil – Mickey

Toni Basil (born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943 is an American singer songwriter, actress, film maker, director and choreographer, best-known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.

Song B Cliff Richard and the Young Ones – Living Doll

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has sold over 260 million records worldwide.

The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comdey to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers.

In 1986, the cast sang “Living Doll” with Cliff Richard for the charity Comic Relief. The song, a reworking of his 1959 hit, reached the top of the UK Charts.

And the winner is …..

Birthday celebration ...

2011-08-01T21:35:00.001+10:00

August is birthday month over on From Screen to Scrap and we are celebrating like crazy with four new wonderful challenges - above and beyond our normal monthly poster challenge and with heaps and heaps of prizes. Don't forget to stop by and see what is on offer.

EXPLORE - Day 11

2011-08-01T13:52:00.004+10:00

The beginning of week three and we are talking about colour.

I'm a lover of most variations of purple. Not really sure why this is but I'm drawn to this hue like moth to flame. Most people would think I like blue - in particular navy blue- as it is the colour most dominant in my wardrobe but purple is where I like to be. It's a striking colour, a rich and vibrant colour. It can make you happy or make you sad.

Purple is both warm and cool. It has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious.

It has been traditionally associated with royalty in many cultures. Purple robes were worn by royalty and people of authority or high rank. The Purple Heart is a U.S. Military decoration given to soldiers wounded in battle.

Since I was born in February purple dominates both my birth stone and flower for this month - perhaps that is why I love the colour so much, it has always "been" with me.

My birthstone is the amethyst and the folklore attached to this gem associates it with sobriety, tranquillity, protection and peace. The amethyst birthstone comes in varying shades of purple from deep vibrant violet to a pale lilac in colour. This stone is very hard wearing and depicts great strength and durability.

The February birth flower is the Iris. The iris comes in a few colours including cool blue and snowy white as well as the vivid purple hew. The meaning of the iris flower is faith, wisdom, and hope.

Another flower associated with February is the violet. People with the violet as their birth flower are believed to possess strong will power. They often stay calm even in difficult situations and strive hard to get out of them. February born people are blessed with good intuitive ability. They are mature, original and never follow or copy others. The violet has an interesting history and the meaning of this flower has evolved with time. Back in the Victorian era, a Violet flower would symbolize complete faithfulness and a cream Violet would stand as a symbol to take a chance. The Violet also symbolizes modesty and chastity.

80's August - Day 1 ...

2011-08-01T10:19:00.002+10:00

The breakfast show on my awarding winning radio station (2GO) is currently celebrating 80’s August. They are looking at all things relevant to this illustrious decade – the TV shows we were watching, the fashion we were wearing, the advertisements we were bombarded with, as well as the music we were listening to. The music isn’t just coming from the stations music archives, oh no! I’m sure some of it has been dug out from the dim dark recesses of the back room in the studio, gleaned from the bottom draws of desks, hunted out from cardboard boxes stacked in garages and pulled (along with assorted underwear, mouldy oranges and dust bunnies) from beneath spare beds in back bedrooms.

One segment of the show each morning is to pit one “memorable” song against another (and believe me these songs are “memorable” for all the wrong reasons!!)

in an all out musical voting frenzy – the prize for victory is the winning song to be played in full.

So I thought I would give you all a little trip down memory lane so we can all collectively bask in 1980’s glory. Some of this will be uniquely Australian but a lot will translate across the globe.

Day 1

Song A Wa Wa Nee - Stimulation

Wa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from approximately 1985 to 1989. Led by the songwriting team of Paul Gray and Steve Williams, the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from their debut album release of the same name and had limited success in the US charts.

Song B Toni Childs – Don’t walk away

Toni Childs (born October 29, 1957) is an American singer songwriter. She has released four studio albums and is best known for her songs "Don't Walk Away", "I've Got To Go Now", a Top 5 hit in Australia in 1991, and the Emmy-winning "Because You're Beautiful" (released as a single in 2004, and featured on her 2008 album Keep The Faith).

And the winner is …….

Scrap Jacked July ...

2011-07-30T16:07:00.000+10:00

I enjoy popping over to Scrap Jacked each month to see what inspiration is up for us to "borrow". Loved them all this time around but was particularly taken by Mandy's layout (below). I loved her use of small pictures and embellishments and the overall simplicity of the layout and I'm very happy with how my version has come out. Thanks for the inspiration Mandy.

Mandy's layout

My version

EXPLORE - Day 8

2011-07-27T14:07:00.001+10:00

Shimelle says Try using your photos as embellishments by adding a TTV frame, writing on them or stamping. You can also have a look at your pages and supplies to help explore your crafting style.

I didn't have a lot of time today so only managed to play around with a couple of different frames and stamps. Still it is amazing how different you can make a plain photo look with just a couple of twists. As to my crafting style - guess I'm in the category of knowing what I don't like more than knowing what I do. My style is clean and simple - I firmly sit in the "less is more" corner of the scrapbooking world. I certainly appreciate those layouts that are full of product and layers or intricate detailing but they aren't for me. I want my pages to compliment my photographs not my pictures compliment my layouts!

EXPLORE - Days 6 and 7

2011-07-26T11:46:00.000+10:00

Day 6 and 7

And the start of another week. This week is all about observation. More importantly Day 6 is about where we sit, sleep and stand while Day 7 is about capturing memories. As I'm playing catch up today I thought it might be beneficial to record what memories the sit, sleep and stand prompt might trigger.

I sleep here on the left side which I guess is relative to how you view it - when I'm in bed I'm on the left side but when you look at the bed it's the right. This is the second actual bed my husband and I have owned although we have had a number of mattresses over the years. The patchwork quilt is one I made - it took such a long time and was an awful lot of work (I'm not sure I would even do another so this might be the one and only).

Memory - I used to sleep on the other side but my dh claimed it for his own and I gave it up without a murmur. I sleep on my left side and he sleep on his right so at night we are never facing each other - not sure if this is a blessing or a curse!!

Memory - Bedding has come such a long way. I don't think people realise how lucky they are to have co-ordinating sets of linen with fitted sheets. When I was a child the standard colour was white and they were all flat - if you were a restless sleeper then you had to remake the bed every morning. My mother washed every Monday and it was change your sheet day - I say sheet because the system was for the top sheet to become the bottom and the bottom to go out to be washed. It wasn't until I was in my early teens that I got my first set of coloured sheets (pink floral no less) and several years later to have that bottom sheet fitted. There were no doona's in our house just checked woolen blankets, 1 for summer and 2 for winter and a bedspread of chenille. How things have changed.

Where do I sit? I spend a lot of time at my computer. It is my communication port where I not only check out various blogs and sites but catch up on missed TV, converse with friends, listen to music and create a lot of my scrapbooking pages the digital way. Guess over time it has become my means of communication and rather than be frightened by the advance in technology I have embraced it although I do see the negative in so much that is available on the net. There seems to be a blurred line now on what is real and what is not and anonymity has made cause and effect and ultimate responsibility for actions almost obsolete.

I also spend some time here in my lounge chair. I enjoy watching TV with the dh at night - we have a few set shows we enjoy together and can sit companionably for a couple of hours in the evening. I also do similar with the dd. In winter I like to knit while watching TV and most Sundays we spend a leisurely hour reading through the Sunday papers. This lounge is an interim one. Our main lounge was one of the first things we bought we we were married and it served us very well over the years. Eventually we decided to have it recovered but the new covering was not a patch on the original and it did not last as well. A couple of accidents with drinks and stains that could not be removed really made it look terrible and we were badly in need of another. "Another" of similar quality was out of our price range for the time being and we just did not want to pay good money for a temporary inferior one until this bargain dropped into our laps. This was sitting in a local clearance store - it had been smoke damaged in a warehouse fire and although the suite itself was fine it was sooty and smelt awful but at $200 was a total bargain. $150 in cleaning costs and we had a $350 quality lounge perhaps not in the fabric pattern we would have chosen ourselves but one that "works" for the time being.

I could also say I sit for long period every day behind the wheel of my car. It is an hour round trip to school and of course the drop off in the morning and pickup in the afternoon leaves me at least 2 hours of sitting time - add the various after school activities and the ferrying to and from for both kids and I can honestly say a very large chuck of me week is spent sitting in my vehicle.

I also sit at my craft desk where I spent time scrapbooking - I don't sit here as much as I would like actually but it is time I very much enjoy.

Memory - Why don't things last anymore? I went through my entire childhood with one refrigerator. My parents used the same washing machine for 40 years. The lawnmower Dad used was second hand when he got it sometime in the 70's and when I cleared out the house once my Dad had passed away in 1994 I brought it home and my husband used it for another 10 years before it finally gave up the ghost. The kettle and toaster from my parents home were the sames ones I remembered from my youth. Now you are lucky to get several months past the warranty period.

Where do I stand? I stand at the sink doing dishes, I stand at the stove cooking or the kitchen bench, I stand in queues at the bank or at the supermarket or at the store register. I stand around talking with friends, I stand at the clothes line pegging clothes on or taking clothes off.

I stand here - cleaning my teeth, brushing my hair, putting on makeup, taking it off, cleansing my skin, plucking my eyebrows.

Memory - I'm not a big fan of standing around unless there is very good reason for doing it. Standing in a queue for hours to secure tickets to something is not my idea of a good time and I rarely do it. One exception to this rule was when the dh and I went to Expo in Vancouver in 1986. The queues for each exhibit were long and the wait lengthy but because we were there and would in all likelihood never attend another Expo we waited and we waited and we enjoyed. It was a memorable experience and one we don't regret.

Shimelle asked ...

Where do I spent the most time each day?

Since each day is 24 hours and I roughly split this into three segments of 8 hours, I would have to say I spend the largest part of each day in bed. Obviously I sleep there but I also enjoy reading and this is something I do each night before lights out. There is also a TV in the bedroom and because it is winter and warmer to just jump into bed I will often watch the late night news there as well.

In which of these locations am I most comfortable?

Comfortable as in physically at ease - then I guess either bed or the chair in the lounge room since it reclines! Comfortable as in at ease with myself and my surroundings then probably here at my computer - my place of choice.

Which of these locations adds the most value to my day? What is my definition of value?

Value is a loaded word - value can mean time best spent for myself or time best spent for my children or time best spend for us as a family or time best spend in care of the home or .... it goes on. If I want to look at this purely as best value for me personally, for my inner peace and well being then I guess I value the time I have on the computer for all the reasons I have already outlined.

What is my balance of routine versus spontaneity? - Keeping in mind, spontaneity doesn’t have to be getting up and doing something energetic - it just means a spur of the moment decision.

Spontaneity??? Oh how I wished there was spontaneity in my life - it used to be here, many, many moons ago. The days when I would roll over on a Saturday morning and decide I wasn't bothering to get up that day, or the times when I would finish shift work at 10pm and then decide I would go nightclubbing or the times when I'd jump in the car and head off somewhere for the weekend deciding to do that only 30 minutes beforehand. Those were the days BC (before children) after that it was hard to do spontaneity - kids don't like spur of the minute things, they don't work that way. You have to plan carefully every single thing you do, in triplicate with advance warning. One day I'll get back to being spontaneous but for now I can spice up my days with decisions on lamb or chicken for dinner, which day to go to the library and whether I can squeeze in coffee with a friend. The joys!!!!

An ARTastic July ...

2011-07-21T23:02:00.001+10:00

Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

ARTastic has a rather interesting painting as inspiration this month. I can't say I'm totally taken with it and if truth be known monochromatic colour schemes are my least favourite of all the variations so I struggled a bit with this one - in fact I did a couple of renditions before I settled on this one.

The added criteria also gave me some grief as I am so not a fan of maroon, in fact I have so little of it in my scrappy stash I eventually decided to do this layout as a digital version as I had more colour scope available to me.

1. A Color or Black and White pic of yourself = 1pt

2. Shades of Red and Maroon colors (Monochromatic) = 2pts

3. Include a hat or gloves somewhere on the layout = 3pts

Still I have done it and I'm reasonably happy with how it turned out. The baby is me at a few months of age and since I'm wearing a bonnet which, I guess is a babies version of a hat, I hope I have covered all criteria.

EXPLORE - Day 4

2011-07-21T21:22:00.005+10:00

Day 4
Today's prompt takes three elements - notes, quotations and photos - and combines them to offer some perspective on perfection.

Do you feel you're a perfectionist or in some way frustrated when things do not go exactly to plan? Or do manage a great balance with happiness at making the best decision a given situation? Do you have a favourite quotation about perfection that you would like to share with everyone?

Perfectionism - per·fec·tion·ism
1. Refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.

2. A doctrine holding that religious, moral, social, or political perfection is attainable, esp. the theory that human moral or spiritual perfection should be or has been attained

I gave up on perfectionism a long time ago. My Mother had followed the adage of “If something is worth doing it is worth doing well” and tied herself up in knots trying to achieve this. My Dad on the other hand had a much more laid back character and firmly believed that “near enough” was indeed “good enough” – this must have been a source of some domestic disharmony during my childhood. I have always tried to do my best and have strived throughout my life to do everything to the best of my ability while still taking into account everyday factors, like time and resources. Sometimes I look at an effort of mine and think I could have done that better but I’ve learnt to let it go – Striving for perfectionism is easy, obtaining it never is. I like this quote.

Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways. ~Samuel McChord Crothers

As for a photo ... This isn't perfect in the truest sense of the word. The lighting is wrong, the focus could have been better, it was taken on film and I have had to scan it so the quality isn't even very good. So why is it perfect to me? This photo represents love in the purest form. It is a moment captured in time - of my father gazing at my newborn daughter and her gazing back at him. No sleepy baby this one. She was alert and knowing from her first moments, almost like she remembered being here before! It is perfect to me because I lost my Dad only fourteen months after this photo was taken and this image has come to represent in my heart how very much he loved his granddaughter and ultimately how much he loved me.